Ranking the Top 10 Best NBA Finals Games Since 2000

I'm not sure how best to respond to Tuesday night. I'm still quivering in delight just thinking about it.

Game 6 was the BEST NBA Finals basketball game I've ever seen in my life.

Hyperbole? Perhaps. Maybe I'll settle down after 48 hours. Maybe my rapid eye movement and heart palpitations will return to normalcy before dinner. But right now, in this moment...OH. GAWD.

Consider the stakes. If the Spurs had won, we’re looking at Tony Parker’s second Finals MVP, Gregg Popovich as the fourth-best NBA coach of all-time (Red Auerbach, Phil Jackson, Pat Riley), Tim Duncan as the best player of his generation and the Spurs as the team of this still young millennium.

Not so fast.

As highlights of “The Headband Game” continue to loop in our mental YouTube players, let’s add some context to the chaos. We know Game 6 was the best game of these 2013 NBA Finals…but was it also the best game of this millennium (2000-present)?

There’s only one way to be sure. Time to reverse rank the best ten games of the past decade-plus.

T-10. Game 2, 2004: Detroit Pistons vs. Los Angeles Lakers

What Happened: After losing to a feisty Pistons team at home in Game 1, the Lakers were thirsty for payback. Kobe posted a 33-4-7 masterpiece, capping off his performance with a dagger three over Rip Hamilton to force overtime. Detroit fought hard, but the Big Four (Kobe, Shaq, Payton & Malone) ended up tying the series at 1-1.

What Happened: Kobe went ballistic for 38 points, including 23 straight from the midway point of the second quarter to the near end of the third quarter. No matter. Paul Pierce matched Kobe’s output with 27 points of his own, andBoston took a 3-2 series lead back to Los Angeles for a chance to close on the road.

What Happened: Let the Russell Westbrook show begin! Westbrook erupted for a series-high 43 points in an epic Game 4 that seesawed between him and an unusual Miami triumvirate—LeBron (26 points), Wade (25 points), and Mario Chalmers (25 points).

Miami was down two points when LeBron caught a leg cramp that forced his untimely exit. However, after a quick respite, James reentered the game, limped across half court and buried a three to rob Oklahoma City of a crucial win and push them to the brink of elimination.

After watching Miami take a beating over the last week from the powerful Pacers, San Antonio brought a new style of game to South Beach. After tight possessions and tough hoops, Tony Parker used the entire 24-second clock to bury a jumper to put the game on ice and give San Antonio the early series lead.

Miami entered Game 3 with two losses on their ledger and were in search of new life after getting waxed down in Texas by Dirk’s boys. Nowitzki and Dallas jumped out quick and held a 13-point lead with six minutes to spare.

And then, the comeback commenced. When the dust cleared, Dirk owned the choker label, Gary Payton earned his keep, and the Heat got back in the series.

(Dirk would repay the favor five years later in similar fashion. SPOILER ALERT!)

4. Game 2, 2011: Dallas Mavericks vs. Miami Heat

What Happened: Already holding a 1-0 series lead, Miami’s players began to taunt the Mavericks following Dwyane Wade’s pose after a made corner three that put the Heat up 15. Dirk Nowitzki laughed off the diss and proceeded to destroy the Heat, scoring the last nine points in a furious Dallas rally.

What Happened: Allen Iverson. Against arguably the best Lakers team of the three-peat, the diminutive MVP guard carried his overmatched team to a shocking Game 1 victory in Los Angeles. Iverson finished with 48 points in the overtime win, snapping the Lakers’ undefeated 2001 postseason run to that point.

Moment You Don’t Remember: Did you remember that Shaq put up a 44 point, 20 rebound Game 1? Have you seen this video? This is why the cross-town Clippers drafted something called a “Michael Olowokandi” with the No. 1 overall pick.

2. Game 4, 2008: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers

"It was really supposed to be a middle pick-and-roll with Kevin and Ray, and Ray waved Kevin off because he liked the matchup that he had already, so he didn't want to bring another defender in to help. It was a great call by Ray. The layup was just tremendous."—Doc Rivers on the Ray Allen layup to seal the Game 4 comeback.

“The rhythmic sounds of swishing nets in the forum were replaced by a chorus of clangs, gasps, and my absolute favorite, doinks. The artistic five-on-five display that I'd grown accustomed to seeing from the Lakers was usurped by an anarchist rebel (Kobe) that attempted to snatch victory from the rejuvenated Celtic bunch. Unfortunately for the city of Los Angeles, Fake M.J. was unable to avoid becoming a footnote in the Celtics' greatest comeback performance in NBA history.”—Me, five years ago.

1. Game 6, 2013: San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat

The intensity was ratcheted up from the outset, finally hitting DEFCON 5 after consecutive threes from King James and Basketball Jesus (Ray Allen) tore the roof from AmericanAirlines Arena. Tony Parker’s fadeaway floater from the baseline fell short, and the Heat proceeded to regain their footing and outwork the older Spurs in the extra session.

Lost in the shuffle: Tim Duncan’s virtuoso first half performance (25 points, 8 rebounds); Danny Green’s devolution back to pumpkin; the reinvention of Chris Bosh as a rebounder and defensive anchor.